Proverbs 29
What Happens in This Chapter
This chapter is a collection of short sayings, most of them pairing a wise or good person with a foolish or wicked one. Many of the sayings are about people in charge: kings, rulers, and masters, and what happens to a land when they are fair or unfair. Others are about anger, hasty words, pride, flattery, and correcting a child.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
1Some people are told again and again that they are wrong. If they stay stubborn, they will break all at once. No one will be able to fix it.
2When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
2When good people are in charge, everyone is glad. When bad people rule, everyone groans.
3Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.
3A man who loves wisdom makes his father happy. A man who spends his time with harlots wastes all his money.
"Harlots" is an old word for prostitutes, women who are paid to have sex.
4The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
4A king who is fair makes his country strong and steady. A ruler who squeezes people for money tears his country down.
5A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.
5A man who says fake nice things to his neighbor is really setting a trap for his feet.
6In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.
6A bad man gets caught in his own wrongdoing. A good man sings and is glad.
7The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.
7A good person cares what happens to poor people. A bad person does not even want to know.
8Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.
8People who make fun of everything set a whole city on fire with anger. Wise people calm that anger down.
9If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.
9Say a wise man takes a fool to court. The fool yells, or he laughs. Nothing ever gets settled.
10The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.
10People who love violence hate a man who does no wrong. But honest people want to keep him safe.
11A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
11A fool lets out all his anger at once. A wise person holds it back.
12If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
12If a ruler listens to lies, all the people who work for him turn bad.
13The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes.
13A poor man and the man who cheats him are alike in one way. The LORD gives light to the eyes of both.
14The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.
14A king who judges poor people fairly will keep his throne for a very long time.
15The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
15Being corrected, even punished, teaches a child to be wise. A child left to do as he likes shames his mother.
16When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.
16When bad people grow in number, wrongdoing grows too. But good people will watch those bad people fall.
17Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
17Correct your son, and he will give you peace. He will make you glad inside.
18Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
18Where no one hears a message from God, people stop holding themselves back. But the person who keeps God's law is happy.
19A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.
19A servant will not change just because you talk to him. He understands you, but he does not answer.
20Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
20Do you see a man who talks before he thinks? Even a fool has more hope than he does.
21He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.
21If you spoil a servant from the time he is a boy, it will end badly.
The last words of this verse are unclear in the old Hebrew. The King James wording says the servant ends up like a son; most modern translations say the spoiled servant brings sorrow in the end.
22An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
22An angry man starts fights. A man with a hot temper does one wrong thing after another.
23A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
23Being proud will bring a person down low. A person who is humble will be honored.
24Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.
24A man who helps a thief is hurting himself. In court he is told to tell what he knows, and he keeps quiet.
In old courts, people were put under an oath: a warning that anyone who knew the truth and stayed silent would be punished. The King James word "bewrayeth" means "tells" or "reveals."
25The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
25Being afraid of what people think is a trap. Whoever trusts the LORD is kept safe.
26Many seek the ruler’s favour; but every man’s judgment cometh from the LORD.
26Many people try to get the ruler to like them. But it is the LORD who gives a person justice.
27An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.
27Good people cannot stand a man who is unfair. Bad people cannot stand a man who lives right.
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